Family jjimdak dinner with crispy rice sides in Hongdae: Ongdarae

Today I finally got to enjoy some proper jjimdak (braised spicy chicken) in Hongdae with my parents. Here's my review of Ongdarae Jjimdak, a long-standing jjimdak specialty restaurant in Hongdae.

Getting to Ongdarae Jjimdak from Hongik University Station and business info

• Address: 122 Yanghwa-ro, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Transit: about a 5-minute walk (324m) straight from Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station (Line 2 / AREX / Gyeongui-Jungang Line)
• Hours: Mon-Sat 11:00-23:00 (last order 22:00) / Sun 11:00-22:00 (last order 21:00)
• Amenities: reservations, group use, takeout & delivery, separate men's/women's restrooms

Coming out of Exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station and walking straight along the main road, the restaurant was visible right away without having to duck into any alleys — easy to find. Great accessibility makes it a solid meeting spot.

The restaurant atmosphere and group room

Walking into Ongdarae Jjimdak, it felt less like a typical jjimdak place and more like a spacious, comfortable café. The interior is clean and modern, making it a pleasant environment for a meal.

The interior is spacious with generous spacing between tables, great for relaxed gatherings with friends — and there's also a group room, perfect for lunch with coworkers or an after-work dinner. So if you're looking for a Hongdae dinner spot for a work gathering, this one's a good pick! My mom even grabbed a business card, planning to come back for a meeting in that room.

On top of that, after the meal there's a self-serve dessert zone with free tea bags, coffee, and homemade scones, so you can round things off with dessert all in the same spot!

Ongdarae Jjimdak menu and prices

• Ongdarae Jjimdak: S (1-2 people) ₩32,000 / L (2-3 people) ₩37,000 / XL (3-4 people) ₩43,000
• Gochujang Jjimdak: S ₩35,000 / L ₩40,000 / XL ₩46,000
• Sinheungcho Jjimdak: S ₩35,000 / L ₩40,000 / XL ₩46,000
• Boneless Cheese Jjimdak: S ₩38,000 / L ₩40,000 / XL ₩48,000
• Seafood Jjimdak: S ₩49,000 / L ₩56,000 (bone-in or boneless available)
• Add-ons: Ongbap (mixed rice) ₩2,000 / Rice ₩1,000 / Crispy rice (nurungji) ₩3,000 / Mozzarella cheese (250g) ₩6,000 / Cheese rice cakes (10pc) ₩3,000 / Glass noodles (150g) add ₩2,000

We went with the signature Ongdarae Jjimdak in L size (2-3 people, ₩37,000) plus a crispy rice add-on (₩3,000), for ₩40,000 total.

Tasting notes — from yuzu salad to crispy rice

The basic side dishes are a refreshing yuzu salad and house-made radish pickles, which were more than enough to whet the appetite before the jjimdak arrived. The bright yuzu dressing paired really well with the rich sauce of the jjimdak.

The main dish, Ongdarae Jjimdak, was clean-tasting with a slight spicy kick and great savory flavor! The spice level is adjustable, so anyone can enjoy it without worry. The special sauce — salty, sweet, and spicy — soaks deep into the chicken meat!

The chewy glass noodles soaked up plenty of sauce and were delicious, and the crispy rice we added separately had its own charm too, though personally I preferred ordering a bowl of rice and mixing it into the sauce! It's a different texture from mixing in rice, and I scraped the plate clean to the very end...! The portion was hearty, great value for money.

Final thoughts

Consistent flavor, friendly service, and a spacious, pleasant interior — it's easy to see why this place has been a beloved fixture near Hongik Univ. Station for so long. Between the delicious jjimdak and the free scone-and-coffee dessert zone, my parents and I left completely satisfied!

When you're craving a good meal in Hongdae, whether for a relaxed hangout with friends or a hearty dinner, this is a place I'd recommend!